Tensions meanwhile continue to mount over the Israeli government’s inclusion of two biblical tombs in Palestinian towns on a list of Israeli heritage sites. On Thursday, clashes erupted in the West Bank city of Hebron for the third time this week. Israeli troops fired stun grenades at a crowd of Palestinian and Israeli marchers. At the United Nations, Syrian ambassador Bashar Ja’afari criticized Israel on behalf of member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

Bashar Ja’afari: “The OIC group condemned this Israeli irresponsible, aggressive and provocative decision and held the Israeli government responsible for the repercussions, outcomes and results of this irresponsible act.”